Container attachment device for railway cars



Dec. 1, 1964 J. E. GUTRIDGE ETAL 3,159,111

CONTAINER ATTACHMENT DEVICE FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed May 14, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR5 Jczc/EE Gar a. By Kenneth J @2145 era,

,1964 J. E. GUTRIDGE ETAL 3,159,111

CONTAINER ATTACHMENT DEVICE FOR RAILWAY CARS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1962 1964 J. E. GUTRIDGE ETAL 3,

CONTAINER ATTACHMENT DEVICE FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed May 14, 1962 Y 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 'II/ [III/In Dec. 1, 1964 J. E. GUTRIDGE ETAL 3,159,111

CONTAINER ATTACHMENT DEVICE FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed May 14, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 MW WW Dec. 1, 1964 J. E. GUTRIDGE ETAL 3,159,111

CONTAINER ATTACHMENT DEVICE FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed May 14, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVENTORS 67 90 14 L/ACK E. Gum/06E Ab/D BY KENNETH J. AusTaE/v (mu/6 amma! Wax e40 //m Armed 5Y5.

United States Patent 3,159,111 CGNTAiNfi-R ATTAQHMENT DEVECE FOR RAILWAY CARS Jack E. Gutridge, Dyer, and Kenneth J. Austgen, Grifith,

1nd, assignors to Puilman Incorporated, Chicago, 111.,

a corporation of Prelaware Fiied May 14, 1%2, Ser. No. 194,221 4 Qlaims. IH. 105-366) The invention relates to the mounting of lading, such as containers, on a vehicle adapted to receive and discharge the same without individual handling of the contents thereof. More specifically, the invention is directed to a container support and attachment assembly includ ing new and improved container attachment means especially adapted for use with piggyback railway cars in the positioning and locking of containers thereon.

Single car, multiple container piggyback operations have been designed for railway freight use particularly with respect to railway express freight and parcel delivery. Sealed containers loaded with freight for shipment are delivered to a shipping point and are loaded directly onto an open deck railway car for shipping to the destination point from where they are directly removed from the car and delivered to the receiver still in the sealed condition. Vehicles used during the total shipping operation include specially designed truck trailers adapted to receive the containers thereon and specially designed railway cars which preferably include cushioned rack assemblies on which the containers are directly supported during shipping to protect the contents thereof from damage due to operational shock. The present invention deals with new and improved container attachment means for use with vehicles, such as truck trailers and railway cars, in the attachment of containers thereto during the shipping operations described. While the invention will be described particularly in conjunction with the use of the container attachment means on a railway car, and even though the attachment means are particularly adapted for use with a cushioned rack assembly of the type to be described, it will be understood that the invention is also readily adapted for use with other types of vehicles including truck trailer chassis and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved container attachment means for use in releasably fixing a container on a vehicle supporting surface for fixed locking of the container thereon during operation of the vehicle.

A further object is to provide a new and improved container loading and attachment assembly particularly adapted for use with a railway car, the assembly comprising container support means and the new and improved container attachment means of the invention ar ranged in a unique manner to provide for efiicient container seatin and locking on the container support means.

Still a further object is to provide a new and improved container attachment device which is capable of providing for controlled positioning and locking of a container on a vehicle with which the device is used, the device being of such design that it is further adapted for use in interconnected series relation to permit simultaneous operation of a plurality of such devices.

Other objects not specifically set forth will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective of the deck portion of a railway car including container loading and attachment means of the present invention as a part thereof and illustrating use thereof in the mounting of a plurality of containers thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of a portion of the container loading and attachment assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating operative use of the container attachment means in locking a container thereto;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective of the container attachment means of the invention and the elements used in operatively mounting the same on a container support means;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the attachment head of the attachment means of the invention illustrating operative positioning thereof relative to a container locking recess;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a container support assembly illustrating spaced positioning of the container attachment means thereon;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section in elevation illustrating an assembled attachment means and operational positioning thereof;

FIG. 7 is an elevation of the attachment means of FIG. 6 as viewed at right angles thereto;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan section of a portion of the attachment means as viewed along line 8-8 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary transverse section of a portion of the attachment means taken generally along line 99 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a sectional elevation of a modified attachment means;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified arrangement of container attachment in a container support assembly;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective of a portion of a container loading and attachment assembly similar to that of FIG. 2 but illustrating operative use of still another modified form of container attachment means;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary section of one of the modified attachment means of FIG. 12 as viewed generally along line 13-13 therein;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary side elevation of the modified attachment means as viewed generally along line 1414 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a transverse section of the modified attachment means taken generally along line 1515 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective of the modified attachment means; and

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the modified attachment means.

FIG. 1 illustrates the body and deck portion of a car Iii having mounted thereon a centrally positioned, longi tudinally extending cushioned rack assembly 11. The railway car 19 may be of any suitable type including generally a center sill structure 12 mounting in opposite ends thereof a conventional coupler 13. The car 10 includes an end sill structure 14, a fiat deck plate 15 and upstanding and outwardly flanged side sills 16. The cushioned rack assembly 11 is formed basically from a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending rail members 17 each of which are in the form of I-beams presenting fiat top surfaces on which a plurality of containers 18 are received in vertical load supported relation. The cushioned rack assembly 11 among other things includes transverse beam members 19 and rail member support and tie-down brackets 20. The transverse beams 19 provide for unitary operation of the rail members 17 during longitudinal movement of the rack assembly relative to the car 16) in response to operation shock in buff and draft. The brackets. 2d are fixed to the deck plate 15 of the car 10 and support the rail members 17 in spaced relation thereto. These brackets also include anti-friction pad assemblies (not shown) which permit ready sliding movement of the rack assembly 11 relative to the car in response to operational shock.

A suitable rack assembly is fully disclosed in the copending Gutridge et al. application Serial No. 89,827, filed February 16, 1961. Such an assembly basically includes hydraulic or rubber pad cushioning means interconnecting the rail members 17 to the car 1%) to provide for cushioned travel of the rack assembly and ultimate return thereof to its original position following absorption of operational shock. While a specific form of rack assembly is described, it will be understood that any suitable lading or container support means may be used with the lading or container attachment means of the present invention to be described.

FIGS. 1 and 5 illustrate the rail members 17 as having mounted thereon a plurality of container attachment devices 21 which are arranged in longitudinally spaced and transversely paired relation. This arrangement permits the positioning of a container 18 between the attachment devices 21 in resting engagement on the top surfaces of the rail members 17- and with a transverse pair of attachment devices 21 operatively positioned along opposite sides of the container. Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 4, each attachment device 21 includes as a primary element thereof a rotatable cone-shaped attachment head 22 which projects above the top fiat surface of its associated rail member 17 and is provided with a pair of oppositely positioned, outwardly projecting lock members 23. Each lock member 23 is provided with a projecting fiat bottom surface as best shown in FIG. 4 and upon rotation of the attachment head 22 is adapted to be received directly over the top fiat surface of a locking tongue-like ledge 24 forming a part of a recessed =lock housing 25 suitably mounted along the bottom edge of a container 18. Each housing 25 is recessed above the locking ledge 24 thereof to receive therein a lock member 23 when the attachment head 2 is rotated into the position shown at the right-hand portion of FIG. 2 as viewed. In this position the lock members 23 parallel the longitudinal axis of the associated rail member 17 and one lock member 2.; in its position over the associated locking ledge 24 clamps the container 18 in tight engagement with the top surface of the rail member 17 to prevent movement thereof relative to the rail member 17. The unlocked position of the attachment head 2 is shown in the left-hand portion of FIG. 2 as viewed in which position the lock members 23 extend at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the associated rail members 17. Each container 18 along opposite sides thereof is provided with a pair of spaced locking housings 25 arranged to be positioned directly over a rail member 17 for operative association with a container attachment device 21.

With opposite sides of each container 18 being associated with a pair of transversely paired attachment devices 21; each container is fixedly locked to the rack as sembly by four attachment devices. By reason of the provision of a pair of oppositely directd lock members 23 on each attachment head 22, a single attachment device functions to lock portions of adjacent containers 18 to the rack assembly. Thus each container 18 is efiectively attached to the rack assembly by four attachment devices 21 although the actual number of attachment devices used is substantially less than four per container. In addition to this uniquely efiicient arrangement, the cone shape of each attachment head 22 functions as a guide for each container 18 to assure proper positioning thereof on the rail members 17 relative to the attachment devices 21 for proper operation of the devices in cooperatively locking adjacent containers. Normally, the containers 18 are loaded onto the car 10 from a side thereof and in doing so are lowered downwardly into resting engagement with he top surfaces of the rail members 17. In the event that a container is not properly aligned between transverse pairs of attachment devices 21 during the lowering thereof onto the rail members 17, the edge portions will contact the inclined surfaces of the attachment heads 22 and will be guided into proper seated position on the rail members 17. Upon locked attachment of the containers 13 to the rack assembly 11 in the manner described, the containers in effect become a part of the rack assembly and are cushioned against operational shock occurring during operation of the car 1i). Thus the containers will move with the rack assembly relative to the car 1 during the absorption of operational shock and the contents of each container wiil be protected against damage.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3, the main components of each attachment device 21 include the cone-shaped attachment head 22 previously described provided with the integrally formed, oppositely projecting lock members 23. The attachment head 22 is provided with a depending spindle 26 which is integrally or fixedly attached thereto and which is of rod-like shape having its lowermost end formed with a pair of recessed flat sides 27 to function as a key portion. The spindle 26 is adapted to be receivedin a journal member 23 which is provided with a generally rectangular outer configuration and which has a circular bore 29 extending vertically therethrough. The bottom surface portion of the journal member 28 is rouned off to permit pivoting thereof in a manner to be described. Adjacent the bottom edge portion of the journal member there is provided a pair of oppositely directed projecting pin-like members 3% which support the journal member and attachment head 22 for pivotal movement into and out of operative position relative to a rail member 17.

Each rail member 17 is formed with a cut-out portion 31 in the inner top flange portion thereof to receive therethrough the journal member 28 and the attachment head 22. A pair of vertical plates 32 are fixedly secured in the opening 31' and extend downwardly therefrom in suitable attachment with the adjacent vertical surface of the intermediate portion of the rail member 17. The plates 32 are provided with aligned apertures 33 in which the pins 30 are rotatably received (see FIG. 9). In this manner the journal member 23 is vertically supported by the plates 32 and permitted to pivot into and out of a vertical position to raise and lower the attachment head 22 into and out of operative position. The plates 32 are also provided with oppositely positioned apertures 34 which are adapted to receive therethrough a locking pin 35 (see FIG. 7) which functions to hold the attachment device 21 in its vertically directed operative position. The pin 35 may be locked in place by a transverse removable pin 36 or the like and may be suitably attached to a rail member 17 by a chain 37.

Still referring particularly to FIG. 3, the intermediate vertical portion of the rail member 17 has fixedly secured thereto a horizontally extending support plate 38 which is positioned below the side plates 32 and is centrally located therebetween. The support plate is provided with an aperture 39 centrally thereof which is adapted to receive therein a stub shaft pivot member 49 fixedly carried by a bifurcated operating arm 41. The bifurcated end of the arm 41 defines a slot portion 42 adapted to receive therein the fiat-sided key-like end of the spindle 26. The opposite end portion of the arm 41 extends through a longitudinal slot 43 formed in the intermediate vertical portion of the rail member 17 and projects outwardly therefrom. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 6-8, the outer projecting end of the arm 41 is pivotally connected by a suitable fastener 44 to an operating lever 45 which extends along each rail member 17 on the outer surface thereof intermediate the top and bottom flange portions thereof. As shown in FIG. 5, each lever 45 interconnects a plurality or series of container attachment devices 21 for simultaneous operation thereof when the lever 45 is pushed or pulled in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the rack assembly.

Operational aspects of the container attachment device 21 are illustrated in FIGS. 6-8. FIG. 6 illustrates in full lines the operative position of the attachment device with the attachment head 22 thereof projecting above the top surface of the rail member 17. In this position the journal member 28 is held in upright position by the locking pin 35 received through the apertures 34 in the vertical side plates 32. The bottom flat-sided key portion of the spindle 26 is received in the groove 42 of the operating arm 41 at its inwardly projecting bifurcated end. This arm is journaled in the support plate 38 by reason of the stub shaft pivot member 41) thereof being received in the aperture 39 of the support plate 33. The operating arm 41 projects through the longitudinal slot 43 in the intermediate portion of the rail member 17 and the outer end thereof is pivotally attached thereto to the longitudinal extending operating lever 45. Push or pull movement of the operating lever 45 outwardly of the rail member 17 results in pivoting of the operating arm 41 about the axis of its stub shaft member 4-3 which is pivotally seated in the support 38. By reason of the arm 41 being operatively engaged with the spindle 26 directly in line with the axis of pivotal movement thereof, the spindle 26 and attachment head 22 will rotate in the journal member 23 into and out of container locking position. This operation is illustrated in full and broken lines in FIG. 8.

The railway car illustrated in FIG. 1 is especially adapt 6 attachment device 47 is designed to be fixedly maintained in operative position for use in a railway car which functions solely for the transportation of containers. The device 47 includes a cone-shaped attachment head 43 of the type previously described being provided with opa the top flange portion of the rail member 17 and the deck ed for container attachment by reason of the provision of'the container attachment devices 21. However, there are many difierent types of lading which may be carried by the railway car 10 and it is desirable to provide for universal lading attachment in a railway car structure to permit unlimited operational use-thereof. As fully disclosed in the aforementioned copending application, a

railway car of the type illustrated in FIG. 1 is adapted for truck trailer piggybackoperation as well as saddleback truck lading piggyback operation. The cushioned rack assembly 11 may be provided with collapsible fifth wheel stands located between the rail members 17 and adapted for attachment with the kingpin end of a truck trailer for support thereof; If the car 1% is to be used in piggyback hauling of wheel-supported lading it is desirable to provide means for recessed positioning of the container attachment devices 21 to prevent interfering contact thereof with truck underfrarne equipment during loading and unloading of the railway car. Thus. each container attachment device 21 is pivotally mounted for movement into and out of operative position as best illustrated in FIG. 6.

The intermediate vertical portion of the rail member 17 directly above the longitudinal slot 43 therein is provided withan upwardly extending opening 46 which is aligned with the fiat-sided key end portion of the spindle 26.. As previously described, the journal member 28 is mounted by its pins 3% for pivoting out ofthe upright position illustrated into an inwardly directed horizontal position as shown in broken lines in FIG. 6. In this position the attachment head 22 is directed inwardly between the rail members of the cushioned rack assembly 11 below the top surface portions of the rail members 17 and out of operative position. Pivotal movement of the attachment device 21 into its inoperative position is accomplished by the removal of the locking pin 35 and manual pivoting of the device 21 inwardly and downwardly out of projecting relation above the top surface of the; associated rail member. The slot 42 in the bifurcated end of the operating arm 41 is of substantial depth to permit ready clearance of the bottom surface of the fiat-sided key portion ofthe spindle 26 during the pivoting of the journal member 32. The vertical opening 46 receives the flat-sided key portion ofthe spindle 26 therein and this portion will abut the top edge of the opening 46 as shown in FIG. 6 to limit the extent to which the device moves into a horizontal inoperative plane. To place the attachment device 21 in its operative position, the attachment head 22 is merely lifted back into the full line position of FIG. 6 and the locking pin 35 re placed to hold the same'in its upright operative position.

FIG. 10 illustrates a modified form of a container attachment device 47 mounted on a rail member 17in association with the deck plate 15 of a railwaycar. The

plate 15. The bottom end of the spindle 51 projects outwardly from the bottom end of the journal member 52 and may be of any suitable shape, not necessarily requiring the fiat-sidcd key shape previously described. The projecting end of the spindle 51 is suitably connected to the inner end of an operating arm 55 which extends throng. a longitudinal slot 56 in the intermediate vertical portion of the rail member 17. This connection may be obtained by the insertion of the projecting bottom end of the spindle 51 through a suitable aperture in the innermost end of the operating arm 55, this connection being fixed by a transverse pin 57 which locks the interconnecting parts for pivotal operation of the spindle 51 and supported attachment of the innermost end of the operating arm 55. The outer end of the arm 55 is pivotally attached to an operating lever 58 through a suitable fastener 59, the operating lever 53 extending longitudinally along the outer surface portion of the rail member 1'7 for operation of the modified attachment device 47 into and out of container locking position. Thus movement of the operating lever 58 along the rail member 17 results in movement of the operating arm 55 and pivoting of the spindle 51 and attachment head 48 for container locking and-unlocking.

Gperative mounting of the container attachment devices of the present invention on a vehicle for container attachment is not limited to the use of the rack assembly 11 described above. It will be understood that the container attachment devices are readily adapted for direct mounting on or relative to any supporting surface or assembly of a vehicle adapted to receive a container thereon. Any suitable rack assembly or platform support may be equipped with the container attachment devices of the invention. Furthermore, the attachment devices may be arranged in any suitable manner for container attachment. By way of further example, reference is made to FIG. 11 which illustrates a modification in the positioning of the container attachment devices 21 described above. The modified rack assembly 61) includes the longitudinally extending, transversely spaced rail members 17 previously described, these rail members being interconnected by transverse beams 19 for unitary cushioned travel relative to the deck 15 of the car instead of the container attachment devices 21 being operatively mounted on the rail members 17, these devices may be suitably mounted on the transverse beam members 19 between the rail members 17. The attachment devices 21 would be mounted in the same manner as described above preferably involving the fixed mounting arrangement of PEG. 10. A modified operating arrangement is provided to accommodate the new positions of the attachment devices.

The operating arrangement of FIG. 11 includes a pair of operating arms 61 extending to each attachment device 21 and pivotally interconnected by a link 62 for unitary operation of the adjacent attachment devices 21. One of the devices 21 further includes an operating arm 63 suitably extending through the transverse beam 19 and pivotally connected at its outer end to a pull rod 64 which extends along the deck plate 15. This rod may extend through any suitable lock means 65 to control positioning thereof with the attachment devices 21 positively held in the container looking or unlocking positions. With this arrangement individual pairs of attachment devices 21 are independently operated although it will be understood that the pull rods 6 may extend from a central location on the railway car to one end thereof and throughoutsuch extension be interconnected with a plurality of pairs of container attachment devices 21. The left-hand pair of interconnected locking devices 21 as viewed in FIG. 11 are in theirunlocked position whereas the interconnected pair of devices 21 illustrated in the right-hand portion of FIG. 11 are in their locked position. It is often considered desirable to'provide container attachment means of the type described with features permitting the establishing of a positive clamping action between the attachment means and the containers. PIGS. 12-17 illustrate still another modified form of container attachment devices 66 arranged in paired relation spaced longitudinally along rail members 67 in the manner previously described. The attachment devices as are provided with suitable means arranging for vertical raising and lowering of the cone-shaped attachment heads 68 thereof to provide for lowering of the radially projecting lock members as into and out of clamping engagement with the top surfaces of the locking ledges 24 of a recessed lock housing 25 of a container 18. The means by which the attachment head 68 of each device 66 may be raised or lowered during rotation thereof into and out of the operative locking position may be of any suitable type as long as positive locking and unlocking action is obtained. Preferably, cooperating thread means form a part of the attachment device as, the thread means being arranged to provide for limited vertical movement of the attachment head as during rotation thereof into and out of the container locking position. 1

Referring particularly to FIG. 16, each rail member 67 along an inner edge portion of the top flange thereof is formed with a recess 7t? in which is received an attachment device journal means in the form of a mounting block 71 of generally rectangular shape. Reinforcing flanges 72 are attached to opposite ends of the block 71 and are suitably attached to the rail member 67 to rigidly fix the block 71 to the rail member. The block 7} is formed with a square-cut recess 73 and a vertically directed threaded opening 74 extends downwardly through the block 7lifrom the central part of the recess 7 3 through the bottom surface of the block. face of the block 71 the vertical web portion of the rail member 67 is provided with a longitudinal slot 75 through which a short operating arm vs is inserted, the inner end portion of this arm being provided with an aperture-7'7. The outer end portion of the arm 76 is pivotally attached by a fastener 78 or the like to an operating lever '7? of the type previously described which extends longitudinally of the rail member 7a (FIGS. 12 and 15) immediately outwardly of the vertical web thereof for simultaneous operation of a plurality of arms 76 and container attachment devices 66 attached thereto as will be described.

Each attachment device 66 includes the cone-shaped attachment head 68 which has depending from the bottom surface thereof a fixed spindle 86) which is best illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 16. The top portion of the spindle 86 has loosely mounted thereabout a lock-like collar 81 provided with a central aperture 82 through which the spindle is received and having an enlarged shoulder portion 33 (FIG. 13) at the bottom end thereof. The spindle adjacent the enlarged shoulder portion 33 is provided with a circumferentially continuous shoulder-like rib 84 loosely received in the area of the shoulder portion 83 of the collar 81. As best shown in FIGS. 14 and 16, the opposite side portions of the collar 81 are provided with paralleling flamed areas 85 which are snuggly received in the square-cut recess 73 of the mounting block 71. With this arrangement the collar 81 is held against rotation relative to the block 71 and the spindle 8t and attached head 68 are free to pivot or rotate relative to the collar 81.

Below the bottom sur- 7 I 'The lower portion of the spindle St) has received thereabout an elongated collar or sleeve 86 Which throughout the top outer surface portion thereof is formed with a continuous thread 87. The top surface of the sleeve 86 terminates short of the rib 84 formed on the spindle so. The lower'end of the sleeve 86 is formed with a pair of oppositely positioned apertures $8 aligned with a bore 89 extending transversely through the bottom end pontion of the spindle 80. These aligned openings receive therethrough a locking pin 9%) which locks the sleeve 86 to the spindle as for rotation or pivoting therewith. The sleeve 8% is threadedly received in the threaded bore 74 of the mounting block 71 and with this arrangement the attachment device 66 including the spindle thereof is pivotally or rotationally mounted in the block 71 which functions as a journal means whereby the attachment head 68 may rotate and simultaneously be raised or lowered by cooperative action between the engaged threads of the block 71 and sleeve 86. As best shown in FIG. 13, the bottom end portion of the sleeve 86 is received through the aperture 77 of the arm 76 above the pin 94) and suitably fixed thereto, such as by a weld 91 or the like, to provide for rotation of the sleeve 86 and interconnected components when the operating lever 79 is moved longitudinally of the rail member 67.

The uppermost container attachment device 66 illustrated in FIG. 12 is shown in its unlocked position with the lock members 69 thereof in disengaged parallel relation with the adjacent edge of the container 18. The lowermost attachment device 66 of FIG. 12 is illustrated in the container locking position and the solid line illustration of MG. 17 similarly illustrates this position while additionally illustrating the unlocked position in broken lines. FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate in solid and broken lines the alternate positions of the various elements of the attachment device in the locked and unlocked positions. It will be noted that with suitable operation of the rod or lever 79 as previously described, the arm 76 will pivot or rock freely relative to the block 71 and the sleeve 36 and spindle Sll will rotate 90, Assuming movement of the head 68 from the unlocked position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 13 and 14 to the container locking position shown in broken lines in FIG. 14, rotation of the sleeve 86 results in ventically downward threaded retraction thereof within the fixed block 71 accompanied by vertical downward movement of the spindle 8t) and fixedly at tached head 65 by reason of the connection between the sleeve'and spindle afforded by the pin 90. Thus during pivotal movement of the lock member 69 through a 90 arc, the head 68 is lowered and the bottom surfaces of the lock members 69 are ultimately brought into tight clamping engagement with the adjacent top surfaces of the locking ledges 24 of adjacent containers 18.

The slot in the vertical web portion of the rail member 67 is of sufiicient width to accommodate the vertical movement of the arm 7 6 fixedly attached to the sleeve 86. The unlocking operation results in threaded upward advancement of the sleeve 86 and the block 71 accompanied by a lifting of the head 68 and lock member 69 for complete releasing of the adjacent containers. During movement into the unlocking position, the circumferential rib $4 of the spindle may abut the radial portion of the shoulder area 83 to provide a positive stop if desired. During-movement into the container locking position,

i the engagement of the lock members 69 against the locking ledges 24 functions as a positive stop means. If desired, the operating arm 76 need not be fixedly attached to the sleeve 86 in the manner illustrated but the engaging surfaces of these elements may include suitable flats to provide for positive operation therebetween and yet permit ready disassembly of the same.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Serial No. 111,755, filed May 22, 1961, now abandoned.

Obviously certain modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. in combination, a vehicle provided with a container supporting deck portion, a plurality of box-like containers mounted on said deck portion in load supported relation therewith, said containers being spaced from one another along said deck portion, and a plurality of spaced container attachment means projecting upwardly from said deck portion between said containers and positioned closely thereto, said containers along vertical marginal sunface portions thereof in areas aligned with adjacent attachment means including locking recesses having horizontal ledge-like lock member engagement portions which are horizontally exposed, each of said attachment means comprising a rotatable locking head portion having a pair of oppositely positioned and horizontally projecting lock members received in adjacent locking recesses of adjacent containers and fixing said containers to said vehicle, means mounting said locking head portion for rotational and simultaneous vertical movement about its vertical axis to move said lock members into and out of overlying engagement with ledge-like portions of locking recesses of adjacent containers, said mounting means elevating said head portion during rotational movement into container unlocking position wherein said lock members parallel marginal surface portions of adjacent containers and are positioned above said ledge-like portions, said mounting means lowering said head portion during rotational movement into container locking position wherein said lock members move into said locking recesses over said ledgelike portions and downwardly into locking engagement with said ledge-like portions, and operating means interconnecting a series of container attachment means for simultaneous operation thereof.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said vehicle is a railway car provided with a cushioned rack assembly carried longitudinally of said deck portion and supporting said containers in spaced end-to-end relation, said rack assembly including a pair of laterally spaced rail members on which said containers are received, said attachment means being mounted on said members in longitudinally spaced and transversely paired relation between and beyond the ends of said containers and projecting upwardly lirom said rail members.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein each head portion or an attachment means includes a supporting spindle 10 means pivotally mounted in journal means, thread means interconnecting said spindle means and journal means to provide the vertical movement of said head portion, said operating means being connected to said spindle means to rotate the same within said journal means.

4. In combination, a railway car provided with a deck portion, a cushioned rack assembly carried longitudinally of said deck portion, said rack assembly including a pair of laterally spacedrail members, a plurality of box-like containers mounted on said rail members in load supported relation therewith, said containers being spaced from one another along said deck portion, and \a plurality of longitudinally spaced and transversely paired container attachment means mounted on inner surface portions of said rail members and projecting upwardly therefrom between and beyond said containers and positioned close to adjacent ends of said containers, said containers along vertical end marginal surface portions thereof in areas aligned with adjacent attachment means including locking recesses having lock member engagement portions which are outwardly exposed, each of said attachment means comprising a rotatable locking head portion having a pair of oppositely positioned and horizontally projecting lock members received in adjacent locking recesses of adjacent containers in engagement with the engagement portions of said recesses and fixing said containers to said railway car, spindle means mounting said locking head portion for rotational movement about its vertical axis to move said lock members into and out of engagement with the engagement portions of said recesses, journal means in which said spindle means is rotatably received, means pivotally mounting said journal means on the inner surfiace portion of a rail member for movement of said attachment means laterally of said rail member into and out of upwardly projecting operative position, removable means retaining said attachment means in upwardly projecting operative position, and operating means attached to said spindle means to rotate the same and said head portion to move said lock members into and out of container locking position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,071,355 Norbom Feb. 23, 1937 2,519,721 Taylor 1 Aug. 22, 1950 2,647,473 Lunde Aug. 4, 1953 2,940,403 Gutridge June 14, 1960 2,973,174 Stanwick et a1. Feb. 28, 1961 3,027,025 T antlinger May 27, 1962 

1. IN COMBINATION, A VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH A CONTAINER SUPPORTING DECK PORTION, A PLURALITY OF BOX-LIKE CONTAINERS MOUNTED ON SAID DECK PORTION IN LOAD SUPPORTED RELATION THEREWITH, SAID CONTAINERS BEING SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER ALONG SAID DECK PORTION, AND A PLURALITY OF SPACED CONTAINER ATTACHMENT MEANS PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM SAID DECK PORTION BETWEEN SAID CONTAINERS AND POSITIONED CLOSELY THERETO, SAID CONTAINERS ALONG VERTICAL MARGINAL SURFACE PORTIONS THEREOF IN AREAS ALIGNED WITH ADJACENT ATTACHMENT MEANS INCLUDING LOCKING RECESSES HAVING HORIZONTAL LEDGE-LIKE MEMBER ENGAGEMENT PORTIONS WHICH ARE HORIZONTALLY EXPOSED, EACH OF SAID ATTACHMENT MEANS COMPRISING A ROTATABLE LOCKING HEAD PORTION HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY POSITIONED AND HORIZONTALLY PROJECTING LOCK MEMBERS RECEIVED IN ADJACENT LOCKING RECESSES OF ADJACENT CONTAINERS AND FIXING SAID CONTAINERS TO SAID VEHICLE, MEANS MOUNTING SAID LOCKING HEAD PORTION FOR ROTATIONAL AND SIMULTANEOUS VERTICAL MOVEMENT ABOVE ITS VERTICAL AXIS TO MOVE SAID LOCK MEMBERS INTO AND OUT OF OVERLYING ENGAGEMENT WITH LEDGE-LIKE PORTIONS OF LOCKING RECESSES OF ADJACENT CONTAINERS, SAID MOUNTING MEANS ELEVATING SAID HEAD PORTION DURING ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT INTO CONTAINER UNLOCKING POSITION WHEREIN SAID LOCK MEMBERS PARALLEL 